The Child Raised by a Golden Retriever Boy-Mom - Chapter 3

Bai Fu drove Feng You to the apartment Lu’s father had left for Lu Yubai. Only after they arrived did he hand over the bags of daily necessities from the trunk. With teary eyes, the small Samoyed hybrid bid Feng You farewell, his fluffy marshmallow-like tail wagging at high speed.

“If you ever need help, you must let me know!” he chirped.

The apartment was located in an excellent school district, meaning the local zoning would grant Lu Yubai access to the city’s best public schools. Even though it was a modest two-bedroom unit, its market value was undoubtedly high.

Feng You had no desire to pry into the chaotic disputes between Lu’s father and Lu Yubai’s late Omega parent. Based on his previous employer’s attitude alone, he knew this was not a heartwarming story. He took a walk through the dusty home, finding one room cluttered with junk and another that showed faint signs of past habitation.

The storage room was filled with luxury goods covered in grime and several expensive paintings that Feng You didn’t quite understand. It seemed Lu Yubai’s Omega father had managed to secure a fair amount of wealth from the elder Lu. If he sold these items, Feng You wouldn’t need to work until Lu Yubai started kindergarten.

The situation was better than he had imagined. He placed the sleeping toddler on the bedroom mattress and immediately began a rigorous deep cleaning.

There were many factors to consider. Feng You couldn’t guarantee that the hateful relatives or the irresponsible father would continue to send payments on time. He had no way to contact them; if he wanted money, he would likely have to cause a scene at the father’s company.

Feng You didn’t want to do that. While it might get him the funds, the resulting drama would destroy their peace. Severing ties with that toxic family was the better choice. His tall, muscular frame was enough to intimidate most people; once Lu Yubai was a bit older, he could find work.

With his Golden Retriever fusion genes, Feng You was naturally stronger and more robust than many Alphas who spent all their time in gyms. Heavy labor would be no problem for him. He was certain no one would realize he was a minor—and no one would treat him like one.

As he worked, Feng You planned for the future. He finished cleaning the living room and kitchen, clapping his hands in satisfaction. There wasn’t much furniture, but with a bit of polishing, the place looked respectable.

It looked like a home.

Feng You had no personal concept of “home,” but as he stood in the clean apartment with the warm yellow glow of the living room lights illuminating everything… the word finally felt real.

The sound of crying broke his thoughts. He dropped his cleaning cloth and ran to the bedroom. Lu Yubai had just woken up. Like any one-year-old, finding himself alone led to a heartbreaking wail. He cried so intensely it sounded as if he were being mistreated.

Feng You picked him up, patting his back while whispering gentle comforts. He was naturally good with children; he kept his voice low and rhythmic, swaying slowly until the boy began to calm down. Before long, Lu Yubai was leaning against Feng You’s shoulder, taking deep breaths as the crying subsided. He tilted his head against the Golden Retriever’s firm shoulder, his little cheeks bunching up.

Feng You rubbed the boy’s head and gently squeezed the nape of his neck, pitching his voice into a soft, playful tone. “Good boy. I’ve never seen a child as well-behaved as Yubai.”

After rummaging through the cupboards, he finally found some unexpired formula and a scratched-up baby bottle. He skillfully prepared the milk with one hand while holding the boy steady with the other. Lu Yubai took the bottle, sucking greedily.

At least he isn’t biting me this time, Feng You thought.

The boy was thinner than average; he didn’t even have the typical “baby fat” one would expect. A family that would feed a child sedatives just to keep them quiet clearly had no love for him. This only strengthened Feng You’s resolve to stay away from them.

He sat on the freshly cleaned sofa, placing the toddler on his lap. The boy’s bones felt soft and delicate; Feng You had to support him to keep him from wobbling.

“Yubai, neither of us has a home,” Feng You whispered, stroking the child’s face with a peaceful smile. “From now on, let’s be each other’s only family.”

They would no longer be alone.

That night, while changing the boy’s clothes, Feng You discovered bruises on his skin that looked like pinch marks.

“Those lunatics…”

His brow furrowed, his heart aching for the small life in his arms. He needed to take the boy to a hospital for a check-up. A child under the age of three would barely have memories of this time, yet those people had still laid hands on him.

Lu Yubai was far less “troublesome” than the previous employer had claimed. He only cried when he was hungry; otherwise, he was quiet, staring blankly at Feng You’s wagging tail. His round eyes followed the golden tail as it swung back and forth.

The apartment only had one large bed and no crib. Feng You laid out the bedding and carefully pulled the child into his arms, letting the boy rest against his bicep. Feng You was a natural heat source, and as the weather turned cold, the toddler snuggled into his chest to find a comfortable spot.

“Goodnight, little one,” Feng You whispered, pulling the covers tight around them.

Feng You’s internal clock woke him at dawn. He immediately began his routine: gathering the boy’s documents, preparing formula, and writing a shopping list. He moved with fluid, quiet motions to avoid waking the child. Once Lu Yubai finally woke and ate, Feng You carried him out the door.

He happened to run into a neighbor who was also heading out. The woman, a Beta, looked surprised to see a strange male Omega emerging from the next apartment. Her eyes lingered on his golden retriever ears for a moment.

“Oh! You are… little Yubai!” she said, putting the pieces together. “I’m the neighbor from next door. My name is Qin Xiaotang.”

“Hello, I’m Feng You.” He bowed politely, feeling a bit awkward.

A young boy with a bright yellow backpack and a red scarf skipped over to her side. He looked up, his face flushed with excitement. “Mommy, let’s go! You have to take lots of photos of me today!”

Qin Xiaotang rubbed his head and smiled. “Of course. I’ll make sure to get the best shots of my little treasure leading the choir.” She gently pushed her outgoing son forward. “Say hello to Brother Yubai and Uncle Feng You.”

Uncle Feng You?

Feng You raised an eyebrow but didn’t correct her. He had only just turned fifteen, but he knew his physique made him look much older. There was no point in explaining.

“Hello, Uncle Feng You! Hello, Brother Yubai! My name is Xia Chang’an. I’m an Alpha, I’m seven years old, and I’m in the first grade at City Fifth Elementary!” The boy rattled off his introduction like a machine gun.

“Alright, that’s enough! How is Uncle Feng You supposed to remember all that?” Qin Xiaotang laughed, patting her son’s head.

“I can remember it,” Feng You encouraged with a smile. “Little Chang’an is amazing. Most kids can’t introduce themselves that clearly!” The boy beamed with pride.

“Are you heading out too?” Qin Xiaotang asked warmly. “My husband is waiting in the garage. We can give you a lift.”

Feng You waved his hands, his tail stiffening. “No, no, I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

“Don’t be polite! It’s on the way,” she insisted, touching his arm. “Besides, I have some things to tell you once we drop off Chang’an.”

She ran back inside and returned with a baby carrier stool. “We don’t use this anymore. It’s yours—it makes carrying them much easier on your arms.”

Feng You couldn’t refuse. With her help, he strapped the carrier to his chest. It was a tight fit for his broad frame, and the buckles required quite a bit of force to snap shut. Qin Xiaotang broke a sweat just adjusting the straps for him. Once Lu Yubai was seated safely on the hip-seat, she finally let go.

“There. It saves a lot of energy as they get heavier.”

Lu Yubai rested quietly against Feng You’s chest, his little legs dangling and swinging slightly. He seemed to enjoy the warmth of Feng You’s body.

“I don’t find it that tiring,” Feng You admitted. “Yubai is quite light.”

“Well, you are certainly in great shape,” she noted. “It must be hard for an Omega to build that much muscle.” Feng You offered a polite “It’s alright,” opting not to explain the complexities of being a Golden Retriever fusion.

He joined them in the car and watched as they dropped Chang’an off at school. Once the boy was gone, Qin Xiaotang’s expression turned serious.

“Yubai stayed with me for a while. I looked after him,” she explained. “That family was a mess. Word is his biological Omega father was a ‘kept’ partner who died during childbirth. Afterward, that irresponsible Alpha father and his fiancé’s family wouldn’t stop fighting. We could hear them screaming through the balcony. We’d hear the baby wailing for hours, and then suddenly… silence.”

She sighed, looking at the innocent toddler. “He’s a good kid. Very quiet.”

Feng You nodded grimly.

“It won’t be easy raising a child alone,” she added. “If you need anything, just ask. I work at City Fifth Elementary as a teacher.” Then, she looked at him curiously. “By the way, what is your relationship to Yubai?”

Feng You paused. He didn’t have a word for what they were. He looked down at the boy, gently stroking the thin hair on his head. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“Family,” Feng You said firmly. “I am Yubai’s family.”